The Maybanke Fund

The Maybanke Fund The Maybanke Fund, a sub-fund of Sydney Community Foundation honours the work of Maybanke Anderson, writer, leader, feminist, early childhood education.

Maybanke Anderson (1845 – 1927) was once a household name. For more than 50 years, Maybanke actively promoted the rights of Sydney’s women and children. She was a writer, historian, teacher, federationaist, feminist and leader in the women’s suffrage movement. For Maybanke, the right to vote was ‘the kernel of all reform’. In 1893 Maybanke founded the Australasian Home Reading Union, the forerunne

r to the Workers Education Association (WEA), which she also helped found. Maybanke published The Women’s Voice, Australia’s first newspaper for women covering national and international issues, women’s rights and the right to vote. Maybanke pioneered the free kindergarten movement. She established Australia’s first free kindergarten in Wooloomoolloo and later Pyrmont to help the children of single working mothers. The Maybanke Fund, a sub-fund of the Sydney Community Foundation honours the work of Maybanke Anderson, writer, leader, feminist, early childhood education pioneer and promoter of the rights of women and children in Australia. The Maybanke Fund connects its community of donors with organisations working to reduce social inequality through women’s advocacy and social reform - causes that continue to be as important in the 21st century as they were for Maybanke in 1893. Donations today help build the Fund for tomorrow, and help provide the Maybanke Anderson Scholarship for Indigenous Early Childhood Education, at Macquarie University.

Sydney Community Foundation - great work, awesome to see the lecture included in this incredible program that will make ...
14/04/2026

Sydney Community Foundation - great work, awesome to see the lecture included in this incredible program that will make a huge difference to the community.

14/04/2026

Join us for the Annual Maybanke Lecture - don’t miss it!

Romilly Madew AO has built an extraordinary career across sectors that are traditionally male-dominated.

What has always stood out is Romilly’s phenomenal energy, her confidence, and the strength of the networks she builds - and brings with her to create change.

From engineering to green buildings, wineries to surf clubs, national leadership roles to community advocacy, Romilly has worked across worlds that don’t usually overlap. What connects them is people.

In this year’s Maybanke Lecture, she will share what those experiences have taught her about leadership, influence and how to change systems.

This is a lecture worth hearing.

📅 Wednesday 6 May 2026
🕠 5:30pm for 6:00pm start
📍 Members’ Dining Room, Union, University & Schools Club, 25 Bent Street, Sydney

🎟 Buy your ticket here: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-maybanke-lecture

The Maybanke Fund (auspiced by Sydney Community Foundation) supports scholarships for education, continuing Maybanke Anderson’s legacy.

Please join us and do share this invitation with others.
Sydney Community Foundation

Looking forward to hearing Romilly speak - book early!
12/03/2026

Looking forward to hearing Romilly speak - book early!

The Maybanke Fund, a Sub Fund of the Sydney Community Foundation, invites you to the 13th Annual Maybanke Lecture.

This year’s guest speaker is Romilly Madew AO, an internationally recognised leader in sustainable development, infrastructure, and the built environment, who has served as Chief Executive across major national organisations spanning industry, government, and the public good. She will speak on the topic: Changing Systems, Not Just Careers: Lessons in Leadership Across Government, Industry and Community.

Throughout her career, Romilly has worked at the intersection of policy, practice and advocacy – shaping how sectors respond to complex challenges such as sustainability, resilience, and social impact. Her leadership has required influence beyond organisational boundaries, bringing together governments, businesses and communities to deliver change that endures.

In this Maybanke Lecture, Romilly will reflect on the practical realities of leading across sectors, the importance of networks and mentorship – including the influence of the women in her life and what it takes to build trust, align interests and achieve reform in environments where authority is shared rather than held. Her story offers insights into how purposeful leadership can shape systems, not just individual careers.

EVENT DETAILS
When: Wednesday 6 May 2026
Arrival: From 5:30pm
Lecture Start: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Location: Members' Dining Room
Address: Union, University & Schools Club - 25 Bent Street, Sydney
Tickets: $50 per person
To Register: https://events.humanitix.com/2026-maybanke-lecture

Delighted to find this wonderful post with beautiful photos of the late Dame Marie Bashir
22/01/2026

Delighted to find this wonderful post with beautiful photos of the late Dame Marie Bashir

From Suffragettes to Cyberfems
Women journalists in a changing media landscape, Delivered by Adele Horin

I visited Walanga Muru - Macquarie University today to see the work they’re doing to support Aboriginal and Torres Strai...
22/07/2025

I visited Walanga Muru - Macquarie University today to see the work they’re doing to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The Maybanke Fund, established by my late aunt Ros Strong AM and auspiced by the Sydney Community Foundation, provides Maybanke Scholarships for Aboriginal students studying education.

It was great to meet this year’s scholar Emma Watts, and to speak with Colleen Mitchell, Director of Walanga Muru, and Jillian Rose, my contact for the Fund.

Walanga Muru provides a supportive environment that helps students feel welcome and succeed in their studies — exactly the kind of impact Ros hoped the scholarships would support.

Photo - group sitting in the welcoming student area at Walanga Muru.

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The Bonython, 52 Victoria Street
Paddington, NSW
2021

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+61280307050

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